During an interview with conservative radio host Laura Ingraham, John McCain said that the fundamentals of the U.S. economy are still "strong."
Asked if he thinks China will ultimately overtake the U.S. economically, McCain said, "I still believe the fundamentals of our economy are strong."
"We've got terribly big challenges now, whether it be housing or unemployment," McCain said. "It's very, very tough times. But we're still the most innovative, the most productive, the greatest exporter, the greatest importer."
Barack Obama's campaign is pushing the notion that John McCain wanted wars with Iraq, Iran, and Syria long before the Bush administration did, painting the Arizona senator as war-hungry in response to his recently repeated attacks on Obama's judgment and patriotism.
"There was a group of people who...before 9/11...pressured the administration to invade Iraq, and John McCain was part of that," Richard Clarke, a former White House counter-terrorism official affiliated with Obama's campaign, said today on a conference call with reporters organized by the Obama camp. Clarke lumped McCain with invasion advocates William Kristol and Fred Kagan and calling the Republican "trigger-happy" in his reaction to the 9/11 attacks.
"His first instinct is to rattle sabres and look for a military solution," Clarke said.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Wednesday said he had urged Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) against speaking at the Republican National Convention and is "disappointed" that his advice went unheeded.
"I'd encouraged Joe not to do it, but he's his own man," Durbin said.
"He sides with Democrats on so many issues, but it troubles me that he would do this. But once this is over, I hope we can come together again and find common ground."
Lieberman's chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee was surrounded by intense speculation earlier this summer, after the Connecticut senator made several critical comments about Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (D-Ill.). Durbin and Obama are close friends, and Durbin played a key role in persuading Obama to enter the race.
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) has endorsed Rep. Don Young (R) in his re-election bid even though the Alaskan is taking fire from conservative activists unhappy with his history of securing federal earmarks.
Young, seeking a 19th term, faces a tough challenge for the Republican nomination against Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell. Young's critics, which include conservative bloggers, have criticized Young as a contributor to wasteful government spending.
But Paul, who has championed smaller government, praised Young in a letter as an "outspoken voice against environmental extremists" and a backer of Paul's "Liberty Amendment" to eliminate the federal income tax.
"Few members of Congress have shown the insight to understand the importance of this sweeping legislation to restrain the federal government, and even fewer have shown the courage to cosponsor this bill," said Paul. "Don is one of those."
Read Paul's endorsement letter below:
Dear Alaskan Supporter:
Please let me begin by once again giving you my heartfelt thanks for all you have done to support me. The reason our campaign was so successful in your state owes entirely to the fact that activists such as you worked so hard. For that I am truly grateful.
Alaska faces a primary election for federal offices on August 26.
As you go about deciding how you will vote, I wanted to write to you regarding Congressman Don Young. Don and I have served together in Congress for many years, and I consider him a friend. Don has been an outspoken voice against environmental extremists over the years, and has strongly opposed the types of federal regulatory overreach advocated in the name of environmentalism.
I am also glad to have Don as a cosponsor of one of the most significant pieces of legislation I have introduced, the Liberty Amendment. Few members of Congress have shown the insight to understand the importance of this sweeping legislation to restrain the federal government, and even fewer have shown the courage to cosponsor this bill. Don is one of those.
I support Don's campaign for re-election, and I felt it was important for you to know these things as you consider your vote in the upcoming primary.
Once again, I appreciate all you have done for me, and for our country. Your efforts on behalf of our cause are truly remarkable.
Sincerely,
Ron Paul
Political Advertisement paid for by Committee to Re-Elect Ron Paul
Country singer Toby Keith said he's a Democrat who thinks Barack Obama is the best candidate his party has had since Bill Clinton.
"There's a big part of America that really believes that there is a war on terrorism, and that we need to finish up," Keith told the Associated Press. "So I thought it was beautiful the other day when Obama went to Afghanistan and got educated about Afghanistan and Iraq. He came back and said some really nice things."
Keith received much publicity in 2002 when he released the song, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue." In it, Keith sang, "We lit up your world like the Fourth of July," referring to the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Keith, however, may have an ulterior motive for boosting Obama, writes Wired's Scott Thill. The country star has a movie, "Beer For My Horses," in theaters now.
Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) says he does not anticipate Barack Obama will see a bump in Colorado polls after he accepts the nomination at the party's convention in Denver next week.
"I don't frankly anticipate a bump here," Salazar told reporters on a conference call today.
Obama and John McCain are neck in Colorado according to major polls. McCain leads Obama 45.8 percent to 45.3 percent, RealClearPolitics's poll average shows, and polls taken in August are split over who leads there.
"He may get a bump," Salazar added when another reporter asked him about the statement. "I don't know whether or not he will get a bump." Salazar was speaking on a conference call organized to highlight Democrats' increasing success in the West and the region's role in the presidential election.
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The Barack Obama campaign announced Tuesday that it is forming a commission with the goal of moving the 2012 Democratic presidential primary campaign back to March, with select states allowed to hold their primary or caucus in late February.
The commission, dubbed the "Democratic Change Commission" will also look to reduce the influence of superdelegates and make changes to the caucus system.
"Senator Obama is committed to working towards growing our party, improving our nominating process and ensuring as many people as possible participate in the process. Obama believes the Democratic Change Commission is an important and necessary step to achieving these goals," Obama Campaign Chairman David Plouffe said.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said that "after the 56 contests in this historic primary season, our party is stronger and more energized than ever before -- with millions of new voters participating."
"As we look to the future, we must continue to strengthen the process and ensure a fair process in which the diverse voices in our party and our nation have a chance to be heard. That is the essential role that the Democratic Change Commission can and will play, and we look forward to their recommendations," Dean said.
Each of the thirty-five members and two co-chairs will be appointed by Dean. The commission will issue its report recommending changes to the primary process to the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee no later that January 1, 2010.
Barack Obama is taking on John McCain on the economy during a campaign event in Virginia.
Obama is contrasting the former Sen. Phil Gramm's (R-Texas) remark that the United States is a "nation of whiners" with the economic squeeze felt by U.S. workers. Gramm made the comment when he was an economic adviser to McCain.
"We're just going through a mental recession, he said, and if people would just basically stop complaining and get their minds right, then everything would be OK," Obama said. "Well, I guess he hasn't talked to a a laid-off worker, who's 50 -- 53 years old and has gone back and gone back to school, got retraining, and is still having trouble finding a job that pays even two-thirds of what he was making at the old plant. There's nothing mental about that."
Obama added: "And I don't see people whining, by the way. The American people don't whine. People work hard. And they don't complain. They'll put up with a lot. What they want is just a chance. They want a fair shot."
Obama later tied McCain to economic policies of the Bush administration that he believed were too friendly to corporations.
"John McCain wants to continue the policies in which companies that ship jobs overseas are still getting tax breaks from the United States government," he said. "You've got companies like Exxon Mobil that have made record profits, that have been able to park $56 billion worth of profits offshore, not pay taxes on them, and not create jobs here in the United States of America."
Senior campaign officials have been dispatched to Indiana to plan a "major event" for Barack Obama Saturday, the same day Obama will supposedly make his first public appearance with his vice presidential pick, according to reports.
The Nashville Post writes that several members of Obama's advance staff have been pulled from Denver to plan a Saturday event in Indianapolis. The Obama campaign is not confirming the report, saying only that a schedule will be released soon.
The report that Obama will appear in Indianapolis is shining the veep spotlight on Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh (D), who, though widely reported to be on the short lists, has fallen off the radar some as speculation heated up around Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) following his trip to Georgia and Gov. Tim Kaine as Obama meets with the Virginia Democrat tonight.
Obama is scheduled to speak Saturday at the old Illinois state capitol in Springfield, where he kicked off his campaign more than a year ago. That event is widely expected to be the first appearance Obama will make with his VP.
The Democratic presidential candidate will then kick off a four-city tour through swing states with his vice presidential pick, before coming to Denver to accept the Democratic nomination.
While the reported event certainly puts the spotlight on a potential Bayh pick, Indiana certainly falls into the potential "battleground" territory the Obama camp intends to cover with the tour. The current RealClearPolitics average has McCain up 1.3 percent in the state. So while the news certainly tips the scales more toward Bayh, the intent of an Indiana event that day is unclear.
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